Back in January of 2004 I reported on the play "Rum and Coke" by Carmen Pelaez that the wife and I had the pleasure of attending at the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Throughout the years Ive attended many great plays, some about Cuba and Cuban-Americans, at the Playhouse. It's one of the very few venues in Miami that always offers quality acts with famous actors and great casts.

Theyre scheduled to present a play called Sonia Flew, the story of a Pedro Pan kid, starting May 9th starring Lucie Arnaz. Unfortunately, the Playhouse may close its dooors before opening night. Via email:

In Miami, the Coconut Grove Playhouse, which has a valued national reputation and has been a great source of pride for South Florida theatre goers and our show business community for 50 years is now in severe danger of having to close its doors immediately unless some basic financial assistance can be found to see us through the end of this season in the middle of May.

For the past four years, I have had the opportunity to perform at the beautiful and legendary Coconut Grove Playhouse, but no previous performance has offered me greater privilege than Sonia Flew, an amazing story of the Pedro Pan movement and the personal impact it had on the thousands of families who took this extraordinary step in the interest of their children’s welfare. The following is a synopsis of this extraordinary work.

Sonia Flew

Inspired by the exodus of more than 14,000 Cuban children who found themselves separated from their parents to escape Fidel Castro in what became known in the 1960s as the years of the "Pedro Pan" movement, Sonia Flew recalls the impact of those years on a Pedro Pan who has now reached maturity and the effect the separation had on her life.

Faced with the thought of losing her own child to war in post 9/11 America, Sonia, played by Lucie Arnaz, must come to terms with her past, her family's present and her son's future.

The hit of last year's Boston theatrical season, author Melinda Lopez has done it again with her dramatic interpretation of a family's struggle between love and separation.

Sonia Flew was conceived by a brilliant new playwright, Melinda Lopez, and we are scheduled to open on April 18th. However, due to the ongoing realities of the non-profit arts funding world, a half million dollar cutback in State funding and the terrible losses incurred from our last hurricane season, on this our Golden Anniversary, the historic Playhouse finds itself in the unthinkable position of possibly not being able to continue funding its productions, its operations or its obligations. This means, Sonia Flew, which is already in its third and final week of rehearsal might never open.

This is a major financial crisis for the Coconut Grove Playhouse. We desperately need your help and we need it fast. The good news is some friends of the Playhouse and supporters of the valuable work Producing Artistic Director, Arnold Mittelman has created have already stepped forward. Facundo Bacardi, through Bacardi USA has just made a major sponsorship contribution. I, too, am contributing personally because I truly believe in this celebration of our Latin heritage and am totally committed to helping tell this story. I need you to match our commitment, I am attaching a list of sponsorship opportunities for your consideration.

During the research I have done for my role in this play, I have come to learn more about my own heritage and that of my father and my Cuban family and my pride has grown with each new piece of information that I’ve learned. My journey into the Pedro Pan story culminated this past weekend when I spent Friday night with Elly Chovel and a group of Pedro Pans who told me their own personal stories. To say that I was transformed by their experiences would be an understatement. What can be said with absolute certainty is that this is a story that must be told.

I am writing this now to urge you to please consider joining us in this cause. I am asking for the opportunity to have either Arnold Mittelman or myself speak with you – in person or by phone - to discuss your willingness to provide some immediate and “lifesaving” financial support for this important piece. In doing so, you will be honoring the Pedro Pans, their families and the foster families who made these great sacrifices that brought each of us to where we are today. We have a very short time to find the funds needed to survive, I hope you will find the time for us at your earliest convenience. Please contact Jeff Koenreich at 305.442.2662 ext 183 to advise us of your willingness to help.

On behalf of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, my family, our shared Cuban heritage, and most importantly, the thousands of Pedro Pans, I offer my thanks in advance for your consideration of this request and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you.

Sincerely,

Lucie Arnaz

Help save the Playhouse, and Sonia Flew if you can. Please lend them your support.

Update: I forgot to add the support link. If you're interested in helping out, click here.